PUSHING TRADE

Hokitika Guardian, 10 September 1930, Page 8

PUSHING TRADE

LAND AGENT ON HIS KNEES. WELLINGTON, September 6. The enthusiasm—even for a lanu agent—of a man who is said to have gone down on his knees and implored a young woman to purchase some sections of land, was referred to by Mr M’Neill, S.M., during delivery oT reserved judgement- on a civil claim yesterday. According to the Magistrate the land agent was asked in cross-examination if he recollected that when lie went into a certain costume shop owned by the defendant in the case, ho had talked real estate to a customer of defendant’s, even to the length of dramatically going on his knees and begging her to buy sections. He had admitted that there was a lady in the shop and that lie had asked her about buying sections,;i hut he emphatically denied he had gone on his knees to her. The land agent’s son had said that lie did not see his father in that attitude, said the Magistrate. Defendant, however, had described how, while the agent and his son were in the shop, the elder mail had asked her to introduce him to the customer, and that he went on his knees to that lady, imploring her to buy sections. Any doubt as to the happening oi this incident, .said the wa= removed by the customer herself. She was an excellent witness and described how the elder man asked to bo introduced to her, handed her a business card, seized a cushion that was handy, got on his knees, and, clasping his hands, imploring her to buy the sections. This, she said, happened in full view of the son. “Naturally,” continued the Magistrate, “she found the position very embarrassing. It may he that in denying the incident the father and son do so from reluctance to admit the indignity, but their denial of what undoubtedly happened is a fact to fie taken into account in considering the credibility of these witnesses.”